Alice McGaw: “Mother of Anesthesia”

Nurses were the first professional group to practice anesthesia services in the United States. This started 125 years ago and little was known about anesthesia back then. One of the most famous nurse anesthetists was Alice McGraw. She was to be given the name â€Å"Mother of Anesthesia† for her expert application of anesthesia during surgery and her many published works regarding the procedure. Nurse anesthetists were pioneers in their field. Surgeons began seeking them out to help with anesthesia during surgery because they could provide undivided attention to the patient.The earliest records establish the beginning of nurse anesthetists in 1887. Since then, they have been instrumental in continuing improve anesthetic techniques and equipment. Although formal education for nurse anesthetists was not made available until 1909, it is the earlier nurse anesthetists who paved the way for safe anesthesia and opened door to this specialty for nurses. Patients reported less discomfo rt and the surgeons reported fewer deaths due to trauma during operations.Currently Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are licensed professional nurses who go through extensive training after receiving their Registered Nurse (RN) degree. This is considered a specialized field and requires nurses to become board certified through a state exam before being able to practice as a CRNA. The purpose of this study was to inform and educate about the women in nursing who lead the way in development and application of anesthesia. Alice McGaw is little known to mainstream society and yet she provided some of the most comprehensive studies to this profession.She also spent her life as a practicing nurse anesthetist and earned the title â€Å"Mother of Anesthesia† Alice McGaw is known as the â€Å"Mother of Anesthesia†, a title given her by Dr. Charles Mayo. She was born in 1860 and little else can be found regarding her upbringing or schooling prior to 1893. It was in this year that she became the nurse anesthetist to Drs William J. and Charles H. Mayo of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Nursing anesthesia was the first clinical nursing specialty and in the beginning consisted of predominately women.Factors attributing to this were low wages, most nurses were female and it was considered to be a deferential position with the surgeon in charge of it all. Before the inclusion of nurse anesthetists in surgical procedures, most anesthesias had been administered by medical students or physicians with little or no anesthesia training. During the Civil War (1861-1865) anesthesia was used on the wounded but very little because it was considered too dangerous. It was not until 1878 that the first â€Å"official† nurse anesthetist came into being.The first school of nursing anesthesia was not formed until 1909. Surgeons began seeking nurse anesthetists to try to decrease the mortality numbers and because nurses could focus their entire atte ntion on the patient rather than on the operation. Anesthesia evolved differently in Europe and the United States. Chloroform was the preferred choice in Europe and ether the preference in the United States. One of Alice McGaw’s major accomplishments was her expertise in the open drop inhalation method of anesthesia using a combination of ether and chloroform.It was this expertise that earned her the title â€Å"Mother of Anesthesia†. She perfected this method while working for Dr. Charles Mayo and it was he who gave her this moniker. McGaw was also very concerned with the patient’s mental state prior to surgery. She believed that the patient should be prepared with soothing words before being anesthetized. She refined a technique that prepared the patient mentally so as to increase the effectiveness of the anesthesia It was this technique that lead to a decrease in mid-operative anesthesia being required.It was in 1899 that Alice McGaw published the first paper ever written by a nurse anesthetist based on her work in nursing anesthesia. The paper was titled â€Å"Observations in Anesthesia† and was published in the Northwestern Lancet. Alice McGaw went on to publish five papers total on the subject of nurse anesthesia. The paper in 1906 published in Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics was titled â€Å"A Review of 14,000 Surgical Anesthetics†. It noted that in the 14,000 surgical procedures for which she had been the anesthetist, there had been no complications or deaths attributed to problems with the anesthetic or its application.This was a milestone in the field of nursing anesthesia. . During the time that McGaw was the nurse anesthetist for Drs. William J. and Charles H. Mayo, she and Dr. Charles Mayo set up a showcase for surgery and anesthesia. This showcase attracted students from all over the world. This was not formal training but encouraged many students to implement McGaw’s technique with anesthesia. St. Mar y’s Hospital, where McGaw was the nurse anesthetist for the Mayo brothers later became the world famous Mayo Clinic. McGaw worked for Drs. William J. and Charles H.Mayo from 1893-1908. Between 1912 and 1920, almost 20 post graduate schools for nurse anesthesia opened. The Mayo Clinic was among one of those offering the program. It was McGraw’s early work that helped to achieve the success of the nurse anesthetist and its subsequent training programs. She and other like her pioneered the field of nurse anesthesia. Previously physicians were 95 percent male and nursing was not a specialized field. This changed with the addition of the nurse anesthetist. Nurse Anesthetists today are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).These are licensed professional nurses (RNs) who want o specialize in anesthesia. They are required to take extensive training and must be board certified by exam before being able to provide services to patients and surgeons. In 1931 the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NANA) was formed. It would later become the American Association of Nursing Anesthetists (AANA). It was the first national organization for practicing anesthetists and still exists today. In 1986, the Clinical Anesthesia Practitioner Award was established by the AANA.This award was to recognize the accomplishments of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who have made important contributions to the advancement of nurse anesthesia. In 1998 this award became the Alice McGaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award to honor McGaws achievements as a nurse anesthetist and for her publications on her work. Without Alice McGaw, nursing anesthesia would not have moved ahead as quickly. Her dedication to perfecting her craft and the publications that she allowed others to learn from were instrumental in the field of nursing anesthesia.Her training and showcasing taught others the importance of anesthesia and its application. Certified Registered Nurse Ane sthetists of today can practice their skills with confidence because of the importance Alice McGaw placed on knowing and perfecting the specialty of anesthesia. She was one of the most important forerunners in her field and her legacy continues to evolve with advancements and achievements based on her work. References 1. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2006) History of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Retrieved November 30, 2006 from http://www. aana. com/aboutaana. aspx? ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetID=173&ucNavMenu_2. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2006) A Brief Timeline of Nurse Anesthesia Retrieved November 30, 2006 from http://www. aana. com/archives/timeline. asp 3. Bankert, M. Watchful Care: A History of America’s Nurse Anesthetists. New York: Continuum 1989 4. Evans, T. CRNA, MS What is a CRNA? (1998) http://www. anesthesia-nursing. org/wina. html 5. Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2006) History of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Retrieved November 30 , 2006 from http://www. miana. org/history/history. html 6. Thatcher, V. History of Anesthesia with Emphasis on the Nurse Specialist Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1953

Roe V Wade and Doe V Bolton

Justin Frazer Dr. Bryce Jones BSAD 234 4/10/13 Abortion is a hot debate topic. So naturally, it has generated many disputes and court cases. Two of the most famous and definitive court cases regarding abortion are Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton. Both of these cases were ruled on at the same time. Both cases resulted in landmark decisions that would change how many states were allowed to regulate abortion. These rulings also help put into view the line between law and morals. Roe v Wade Jane Roe† was actually a pseudonym for the plaintiff, Norma McCorvey. She used this for protection and also to emphasize that she was fighting for all pregnant women. The defendant was Henry Wade, district attorney for Dallas County, Texas. McCorvey’s claim was that the Texas abortion law, passed in 1859, violated her constitutional rights. Backstory: Norma McCorvey, age 21, became pregnant in 1969. She did not want to continue with her pregnancy, as her marriage had failed and her first daug hter was in the care of her mother and stepfather.As previously stated, Texas passed a law in 1869 preventing all abortion, excluding cases in which the woman’s life was in danger. She met Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee, two attorneys who were interested in changing the abortion law. There were two issues standing in the way: McCorvey might not have standing because the abortion law only applied to women who performed abortions, not to those who needed them. The second issue was if she passed the point in her pregnancy where it was safe to perform an abortion, the case would become irrelevant.Their argument: in a previous case, Griswold v Connecticut, Justice William O. Douglas interpreted the Ninth Amendment to mean that any rights not explicitly granted to the government were retained by the people; previously it had been taken to mean that those rights were retained by the states. At the time of this case, this meant that all previously banned contraceptives between cou ples were now legal. Weddington and Coffee could argue that this â€Å"right to privacy,† as Douglas defined, should also be applied to abortion.The first reply from Assistant D. A. John Tolle, defending D. A. Wade, claimed exactly what they had expected: â€Å"Jane Roe† had no standing since the law only affected women who performed abortions. An anonymous affidavit from McCorvey submitted to a three-judge panel on May 22, 1970, stated that she wanted to terminate her pregnancy due to â€Å"the economic hardship which pregnancy entailed and because of the social stigma attached to the bearing of illegitimate children. At the hearing, Weddington argued on Roe’s standing to sue, as well as the constitutionality of the abortion statute (on the grounds of the First, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments). After the defense argued for the unborn fetus as a child, a life, Weddington brought up the issue of the impossibility to define when â€Å"life† begins (which is still one of the main arguments between pro-life and pro-choice advocates). Finally, Tolle argued that right of a child was more important than the woman’s previously stated â€Å"right to privacy. However, the three judges found that the Texas abortion laws were unconstitutional by depriving rights dictated by the Ninth Amendment. Since this only declared the law unconstitutional and did not prevent the enforcing of the law, the plaintiffs then appealed to the Supreme Court. In October 1972, the plaintiffs and the defendants made their cases as they had before. Several things played into the Court’s following decision: the ruling of Eisenstadt v Baird, which made it legal for unmarried persons to use birth control.This solidified Weddington’s argument for the right to privacy in the Ninth Amendment; that individuals have the right to be free from government intervention in matters such as whether or not to have a child. Second, Justice Harry Blackmun, afte r reviewing the abortion statutes, ruled that they were no longer valid because they were put in place due to the dangers of abortion; this was no longer an issue, as abortion was just as safe as childbirth in the present time. Concerning the rights of the unborn as a child, Blackmun found that nowhere in theConstitution or Bill of Rights (specifically, the Fourteenth Amendment) a â€Å"person† includes the unborn. The final ruling: the abortion decision must be left to the judgment of the woman’s doctor in the first trimester. In the second trimester, the state may â€Å"regulate the abortion procedure in ways that are reasonably valid to maternal health. † After that, the state can regulate or stop the abortion. Summary Norma McCorvey wanted an abortion, but could not obtain would since it was illegal in her state, Texas.Most states at the time had abortion statutes in place proscribing abortion. She, under the alias â€Å"Jane Roe,† and the two attorne ys representing her, Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee, filed a suit against the county of Dallas on the grounds that the abortion laws violated a woman’s right to choose under the â€Å"right to privacy,† interpreted in the Ninth Amendment in the previous case Connecticut v Griswold. The district court ruled in favor of â€Å"Roe,† basing judgment upon the Ninth Amendment.This ruling did not prevent the enforcement of the abortion laws; rather, it merely stated that they were unconstitutional. McCorvey and her attorneys, now not only representing â€Å"Jane Roe† as a person, but as all women, appealed directly to the Supreme Court. On the opposing side, there was the fact that the state believed they had the responsibility to protect the life of the unborn child. The argument against that was this: â€Å"when does life really start? † It could be said that life doesn’t begin until after the child is born; not when it is still a fetus.This r eally sparked this debate that still goes on today. Justice Harry Blackmun found that, after reviewing the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the Founding Fathers never explicitly put the unborn with the â€Å"persons† protected under our nation’s documents. However, he said that this was not absolute. He said that, though he agreed that the Ninth Amendment encompassed a woman’s right to choose whether or not to terminate her pregnancy, the right to choose was also not absolute.So, they came to a compromise: during the first trimester of a pregnancy, abortion was legal, but at the judgment of the woman’s doctor (which has changed since then). During the second trimester, the state could regulate abortions in a way that is related to maternal health. During the third trimester, the state could proscribe abortions. The general rule was that if the fetus is able to live outside the womb (with artificial aid), which was typically at about 28 weeks, then the wom an no longer has a right to an abortion. This entire case and the decisions that were made is a landmark in our history.It has sparked much debate and divided many people into â€Å"pro-life† and â€Å"pro-choice† groups. Doe v Bolton A companion case to Roe v Wade, Doe v Bolton was an abortion case that happened in Georgia around the same time (decision on the same day) that its Texas counterpart did. Much like other states with abortion laws, Georgia only allowed abortion if: the pregnancy was a danger to the woman’s life by judgment of a licensed physician, the fetus was in danger of being born with a serious defect, or if the abortion was a product of rape ( § 26-1202(a)).The woman wanting an abortion also had to qualify for the following conditions, defined under  § 26-1202(b) of Georgia Criminal Code: â€Å"the abortion [is to] be performed in a hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, the procedure be approved by the hospital staff abortion committee, and the performing physician's judgment be confirmed by independent examinations of the patient by two other licensed physicians. † Sandra Cano, a mother of three, did not meet any of these conditions. Under the pseudonym â€Å"Mary Doe,† she and her attorney, Margie Pitts Hames, sued Arthur K.Bolton, the Attorney General for Georgia. Their claim was that the abortion statute of Georgia was unconstitutional. Like â€Å"Roe,† the three-judge panel of the district court found that Doe did, in fact, have standing in this issue. They ruled that the first three conditions ( § 26-1202(a)) listed above were unconstitutional, but they upheld the medical approval and residency requirements. In addition, like Roe v Wade, they merely provided that the section of the law was unconstitutional; they did not give any injunction against enforcing the law.This is called declaratory relief. The plaintiffs then appealed directly to the Supreme Court, like Roe and her attorneys. The arguments and counter-arguments were all the same as in Roe v Wade. The Court found that the three conditions in section 26-1202(b) were unconstitutional. They found that the JCAH accreditation requirement did not pertain to the woman’s right, and did not reasonably relate to the abortion statute. The two conditions requiring the abortion to be approved by a committee and by two other physicians were found to not serve the woman’s health in any way.The committee condition violated the woman’s â€Å"right to receive medical care† from her physician, and the two-doctor condition violated the physician’s â€Å"right to practice. † These conditions were struck down. Justice Blackmun, mentioned in the previous case, said that Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton must be read together. The former allowed the states to proscribe abortion in the third trimester. However, Doe v Bolton added that the abortion could still be allowed if it was a matter of the woman’s health, in the opinion of the woman’s doctor.This is essentially a loophole around the â€Å"viability† requirement of the ruling of Roe v Wade. Doe v Bolton and Roe v Wade together struck down state abortion laws and struck up heated debates. These were the first real challenges regarding abortion in the United States. Both declared abortion a constitutional right. Summary Sandra Cano (â€Å"Mary Doe†) and attorney Margie Pitts Hames sued the state of Georgia for its unconstitutional abortion statute. The district court found they had standing, but like Roe v Wade, they gave them only declaratory, not injunctive, relief.The plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court for broader relief. Georgia’s Criminal Code, section 26-1202(b), stated that in addition to the requirements to receive an abortion that a woman must be in danger from the pregnancy, the child must be in danger of severe defect from birth, or the pregnancy being a result of rape, any woman wanting an abortion had to receive one in a hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, she had to receive permission of two physicians other than her own, and the decision must also be approved by a hospital committee.The Court struck all of these requirements as unconstitutional. Additionally, the Court ruled that a woman may obtain an abortion after â€Å"viability† (as defined in Roe v Wade) if it was necessary to preserve her health. Along with its companion case, Roe v Wade, the decision was made on January 22, 1973, that abortion was a constitutional right.

Importance & Impact of Ethical Communication Essay

Abstract Communication is constant, especially in the information age. Savvy professionals know how to communicate quickly, effectively and ethically. The term â€Å"ethical communication† has different meanings depending on the context. A shampoo advertiser and a sports team spokesperson may have dissimilar views on what constitutes as ethical communication. Some communication guidelines are only applicable to certain situations, while others could be understood as ethical in one situation and unethical in another. Every aspect of ethical communication should be considered within the boundaries of the issue at hand. Introduction The Business Dictionary defines ethical standards as follows: Principles that when followed, promote values such as trust, good behavior, fairness, and/or kindness. There is not one consistent set of standards that all companies follow, but each company has the right to develop the standards that are meaningful for their organization. Ethical standards are not always easily enforceable, as they are frequently vaguely defined and somewhat open to interpretation (â€Å"Men and women should be treated equally, † or â€Å"Treat the customer with respect and kindness. ). Others can be more specific, such as â€Å"Do not share the customer’s private information with anyone outside of the company. † Ethical Communication in Business Every business is dependent on effective ethical communication. It’s what makes new policy in government, raises money for nonprofits and strengthens a business. Business communication occurs any time a message is given or received, whether it’s verbal or nonverbal, between two businesses, a business and its employees or a business and the public. The messages sent and received by a business need to follow ethical norms that don’t offend or make individuals feel uncomfortable. Significance Ethical business communication holds great significance on three main fronts: business to business, business to employees and business to the public. An example of the first type is between a business and its suppliers or distributors. The second is organizational communication within the business itself, how the leadership communicates with the employees. Lastly, communication with the public is how the business develops its public image. Maintaining high ethical standards on each front is essential to success in business. Function Ethical business communication’s primary function is to send and receive messages in a neutral, non-offensive manner. Ethical effective communication skills in business strengthen its corporate culture, resulting in a more attractive bottom line. When communication does not adhere to ethical standards, the consequences can include unhappy employees, a poor public image and a decrease in the bottom line. Ethical business communication is intended to care for the emotional and perceptive needs of its employees and customers. Misconceptions A common misconception concerning ethical communication in business is that most unethical communication is obvious and overt. True unethical communication is based on perception. If a person or people group perceive or interpret certain actions or words to be discriminatory or offensive, the communication can be considered unethical. The same is true with interpersonal interactions between employees. If a particular form of communication or gesture is offensive to another employee, it can be categorized as unethical. Purpose The purpose of ethical communication in business is to protect, respect and maintain a good public image. The communication in any business is for the purpose of maintaining order and the proper image with its employees and society. For example, if an accusation was to arise against a particular company, the public relations representative will arrange a press conference to verbally address the issue at hand. The company may also change a policy pertaining to the issue that non-verbally communicates the same message. Consequences There are many consequences to unethical business communication. A business may have an outstanding product or service, but if it doesn’t communicate well with its customers, they will not be satisfied, and this can weaken the business/customer relationship. Everything in business rises and falls on communication. When ethical communication is lacking, moral, corporate image and motivation will lack as well. Each of these elements affects the spirit of the employees, which in turn will reflect to the customer and result in a decrease in revenue. Ethical behavior is a companywide concern, of course; but because communication efforts are the public face of a company, they are subjected to particularly rigorous scrutiny from regulators, legislators, investors, consumer groups, environmental groups, labor organizations, and anyone else affected by business activities. Ethical communication includes all relevant information, is true in every sense, and is not deceptive in any way. In contrast, unethical communication can include falsehoods and misleading information (or can withhold important information). Some examples of unethical communication include: Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words or other creative product as your own. Note that plagiarism can also be illegal if it violates a copyright, which is a form of legal protection for the expression of creative ideas. Selective misquoting: Deliberately omitting damaging or unflattering comments to paint a better (but untruthful) picture of you or your company. Misrepresenting numbers: Increasing or decreasing numbers, exaggerating, altering statistics, or omitting numerical data. Distorting visuals: Making a product look bigger or changing the scale of graphs and charts to exaggerate or conceal differences. In contrast, an ethical message is accurate and sincere. It avoids language and images that manipulate, discriminate, or exaggerate. On the surface, such ethical practices appear fairly easy to recognize, but deciding what is ethical can be a considerable challenge in complex business situations. Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas from Ethical Lapses Every company has responsibilities to its stakeholders, and those various groups often have competing interests. An ethical dilemma involves choosing among alternatives that aren’t clear-cut. Perhaps two conflicting alternatives are both ethical and valid, or perhaps the alternatives lie somewhere in the gray area between clearly right and clearly wrong. Suppose you are the chief executive of a company whose sales are declining and you might be forced to reduce costs by laying off 100 employees. You’ve decided to wait two months before making this tough decision. Here’s your dilemma: Do you tell the workforce now that several hundred jobs could disappear in the near future? Telling them now would give people more time to look for new jobs and adjust their finances—clearly a good thing. However, if you tell them now, vital employees nervous about their future could jump ship, which could drive sales down even more—clearly not a good thing. And what if you tell them now and many people leave but then sales improve enough in the next two months that you can avoid the layoffs? You will have unnecessarily disrupted many careers and families. Situations such as these often have no clear answer. In contrast, an ethical lapse is a clearly unethical (and frequently illegal) choice. In 2004, several insurance companies were accused of misleading military personnel at Fort Benning in Georgia, Camp Pendleton in California, and other bases around the country. Many of these young men and women thought they were signing up for savings programs when in fact they were buying extremely expensive and frequently unnecessary life insurance policies. The policies were often sold during mandatory financial training sessions for the soldiers, who were given no time to read the documents they signed. After the situation was brought to national attention by the New York Times and other news media, at least two of the companies involved, Madison National Life Insurance Company and American Amicable Life Insurance, began issuing full refunds. Ensuring Ethical Communication Ensuring ethical business communication requires three elements: ethical individuals, ethical company leadership, and the appropriate policies and structures to support employees’ efforts to make ethical choices. 39 Moreover, these three elements need to work in harmony. If employees see company executives making unethical decisions and flouting company guidelines, they might conclude that the guidelines are meaningless and emulate their bosses’ unethical behavior. Employers have a responsibility to establish clear guidelines for ethical behavior, including business communication. In a recent global survey by the International Association of Business Communicators, 70 percent of communication professionals said their companies clearly define what is considered ethical and unethical behavior. On a somewhat less positive note, slightly fewer than half said their companies encourage open discussion of ethical issues and dilemmas. Many companies establish an explicit ethics policy by using a written code of ethics to help employees determine what is acceptable. A code is often part of a larger program of employee training and communication channels that allow employees to ask questions and report instances of questionable ethics. For example, United Technologies, a large aerospace and defense company based in Hartford, Connecticut, offers employees, customers, and suppliers a confidential way to report suspected fraud and other ethical concerns. The people who share their concerns through the program then receive a written response that explains how the situation was resolved. 1 To ensure ongoing compliance with their codes of ethics, many companies also conduct ethics audits to monitor ethical progress and to point out any weaknesses that need to be addressed. Principles of Ethical Communication The Business Dictionary defines ethical standards as â€Å"Principles that when followed, promote values such as trust, good behavior, fairness, and/or kindness. † In order to establish good communication with people of other cultures, it is essential to understand their ethical framework. In rder to learn ethical intercultural communication, you must expect people of other cultures to think differently, be willing to learn culturally appropriate behavior and (at least to some extent) practice what their cultures consider ethical. Expect Differences Ethical principles are not the same across cultures. Rather, ethics are culturally informed. â€Å"The right thing to do† is not just instinctive in humans. Many aspects of what is â€Å"good† are taught (consciously and subconsciously) by a person’s culture. So, if you want to establish ethical intercultural communication with people of another background, prepare yourself to see the world differently. Do not expect that what seems good to you will also seem good to them; understand that they may view some things as bad that you view as fine or good. For example, while American culture teaches that individuality is a good thing and that â€Å"standing on your own two feet† is a position you should strive for, many other cultures value the group more than the individual. For example, in most African cultures, being part of a strong family support system is considered much more important and valuable than standing alone as an individual. Exemplify the Universal Although different cultures will have varying expectations and standards as to what is ethical, there are some ethical standards that are universal. So, by striving to abide by ethical standards that are universally received, you can take the first step in communicating and connecting well with people of another culture. According to William Howell in his Ethics of Intercultural Communication, â€Å"Two principles that are universal are that no action is ethical if it harms persons, and the action that benefits persons accumulates ethical quality. † Act in such a way that you do not intentionally bring harm to anyone, and always keep others’ best interests in mind. Learn their Culture To really communicate well interculturally, you must ask the question: â€Å"What makes a ‘good’ person in your culture? † Talk with people in the target culture to discover the traits of an ethical person. What attitudes and actions does a good person possess? Does a good person set aside his personal work to take care of his parents when they are elderly? Does a good person control his anger at all times? Does a good person practice abstinence in certain areas? You will find, as you look into someone else’s culture, that the things that make a â€Å"good† person in your culture are not the same things that comprise a â€Å"good† person in every culture. Empathize Through Action As you learn the ways of another culture, the best way to establish good intercultural communication is to act in a way that is considered ethical in that culture. Do and say the things that will express that you have the best interest of those around you in mind. Enjoy the food people prepare for you. If there are certain respectful gestures associated with greeting people older or more prestigious than yourself (or everyone), use them. Learn at least enough of the language to greet people and ask how they are doing in their native tongue. Wear clothing that is culturally appropriate. Respect family organization and methods of doing education and business. On every level of life and society, share in the way people think and act as much as you are able to. This willingness to adopt the standards of another culture is the best way to establish ethical and intercultural communication. Goals of Ethical Business Communications The purpose of business is to make money. Behaving ethically serves that purpose. People prefer doing business with ethical companies, companies they can trust, so in the long run the ethical company benefits from its behavior. This means that the goal of ethical business communication is to build the trust and credibility of the company. The International Association of Business Communicators maintains that companies that the practice of ethical business communication also increases a team feeling among employees and boosts employee morale. To accomplish these goals, corporate communication must strive to attain certain specific ethical goals. Honesty It is to a company’s benefit to be honest. Honesty is the basis of trust. If others feel that they can believe what a company says, they will trust it. Other factors being equal, people prefer doing business with a company they can trust. Honesty means saying what you believe to be true, but it also means distinguishing fact from opinion. It is easy to disguise opinion as fact. Some television news commentators do it every day, and their credibility suffers for it. They may be considered entertaining, but what they say is taken with a grain of salt. Consultant Michelle Howe advises any company that wants to be trusted to clearly label opinion as such, and to present what it has to say in an unbiased manner. Clarity Distinguishing fact from opinion is part of a larger goal of being clear and easy to understand. Ethical business communication calls for being clearly understood. It means that the company is not seen as attempting to obfuscate or confuse the public and other companies with whom it does business. Timeliness of communication can also help. Within the company, acknowledging problems and keeping relevant people informed with clear and direct communications helps dampen the â€Å"rumor mill† and maintains better employee morale. Commitment In the context of business communications, commitment means allocating the necessary time and resources to discussing issues fully. Communication needs to be thorough, for only when time and resources, such as feedback forms, are dedicated to discussing issues is there a chance for everyone in the organization to have their voice heard. Acknowledging Sources Few things create as much tension as when someone presents another person’s ideas as his own. Employees want credit for their work, so failure to acknowledge them is not only unethical but also bad for morale. Some people believe that concerns about plagiarism are only important in academic ettings, but anytime someone is caught â€Å"borrowing† someone else’s ideas without proper acknowledgment, trustworthiness takes a nosedive. Most people realize it’s important to use quotations when citing direct statements from others, but it’s also good practice and sound business to acknowledge ideas that are not your own. Openness to Other Views Openness is one of the key pillars of ethical communication. In communication, openness m eans being open to diverse ideas and opinions, as well as being ready to offer your own opinions even if you do not think they will be popular. A business environment where people are not free to play the devil’s advocate and say unpopular opinions is not an ethical one, because intolerance of divergent opinions means intolerance of differences and free flow of information is essential to both the public’s and the organization’s long-term well-being. Taking Care with Confidential Information Confidential information is a special class of information that requires special attention. The North Carolina State University business department emphasizes the importance of the ethical business practice of protecting confidential information while complying with public disclosure laws. Any use of confidential information for personal gain is also clearly unethical. IABC Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators Preface Because hundreds of thousands of business communicators worldwide engage in activities that affect the lives of millions of people, and because this power carries with it significant social responsibilities, the International Association of Business Communicators developed the Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators. The Code is based on three different yet interrelated principles of professional communication that apply throughout the world. These principles assume that just societies are governed by a profound respect for human rights and the rule of law; that ethics, the criteria for determining what is right and wrong, can be agreed upon by members of an organization; and, that understanding matters of taste requires sensitivity to cultural norms. These principles are essential: †¢Professional communication is legal. †¢Professional communication is ethical. †¢Professional communication is in good taste. Recognizing these principles, members of IABC will: Engage in communication that is not only legal but also ethical and sensitive to cultural values and beliefs; †¢Engage in truthful, accurate and fair communication that facilitates respect and mutual understanding; †¢adhere to the following articles of the IABC Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators. Because conditions in the world are constantly changing, members of IABC will work to improve their individual competence and to increase the body of knowledge in the field with research and education. Articles 1. Professional communicators uphold the credibility and dignity of their profession by practicing honest, candid and timely communication and by fostering the free flow of essential information in accord with the public interest. 2. Professional communicators disseminate accurate information and promptly correct any erroneous communication for which they may be responsible. 3. Professional communicators understand and support the principles of free speech, freedom of assembly, and access to an open marketplace of ideas and act accordingly. 4. Professional communicators are sensitive to cultural values and beliefs and engage in fair and balanced communication activities that foster and encourage mutual understanding. 5. Professional communicators refrain from taking part in any undertaking which the communicator considers to be unethical. 6. Professional communicators obey laws and public policies governing their professional activities and are sensitive to the spirit of all laws and regulations and, should any law or public policy be violated, for whatever reason, act promptly to correct the situation. 7. Professional communicators give credit for unique expressions borrowed from others and identify the sources and purposes of all information disseminated to the public. 8. Professional communicators protect confidential information and, at the same time, comply with all legal requirements for the disclosure of information affecting the welfare of others. 9. Professional communicators do not use confidential information gained as a result of professional activities for personal benefit and do not represent conflicting or competing interests without written consent of those involved. 0. Professional communicators do not accept undisclosed gifts or payments for professional services from anyone other than a client or employer. 11. Professional communicators do not guarantee results that are beyond the power of the practitioner to deliver. 12. Professional communicators are honest not only with others but also, and most importantly, with themselves as individuals; for a professional commu nicator seeks the truth and speaks that truth first to the self. Enforcement and Communication of the IABC Code of Ethics IABC fosters compliance with its Code by engaging in global communication campaigns rather than through negative sanctions. However, in keeping with the sixth article of the IABC Code, members of IABC who are found guilty by an appropriate governmental agency or judicial body of violating laws and public policies governing their professional activities may have their membership terminated by the IABC executive board following procedures set forth in the association’s bylaws. IABC encourages the widest possible communication about its Code. The IABC Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators is published in several languages and is freely available to all: Permission is hereby granted to any individual or organization wishing to copy and incorporate all or part of the IABC Code into personal and corporate codes, with the understanding that appropriate credit be given to IABC in any publication of such codes. The IABC Code is published on the association’s web site. The association’s bimonthly magazine, Communication World, publishes periodic articles dealing with ethical issues. At least one session at the association’s annual conference is devoted to ethics. The international headquarters of IABC, through its professional development activities, encourages and supports efforts by IABC student chapters, professional chapters, and regions to conduct meetings and workshops devoted to the topic of ethics and the IABC Code. New and renewing members of IABC sign the following statement as part of their application: â€Å"I have reviewed and understand the IABC Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators. As a service to communicators worldwide, inquiries about ethics and questions or comments about the IABC Code may be addressed to members of the IABC Ethics Committee. The IABC Ethics Committee is composed of at least three accredited members of IABC who serve staggered three-year terms. Other IABC members may serve on the committee with the approval of the IABC executive committee. The functions of the Ethics Committee are to assist with professional d evelopment activities dealing with ethics and to offer advice and assistance to individual communicators regarding specific ethical situations.

American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

American History - Essay Example berty came from a world of slavery has been named the central paradox of American history.†(xii) The theme I am going to deal with is: How the White Race of that era practiced duplicity and hypocrisy of the highest order in their disposition towards the Black Race and utilized every avenue for exploiting them for territorial gains and aggrandizement of wealth? In America slavery was business as usual for centuries under various guises. In Manhattan one out of five at that time was a slave. Exploitation of the Blacks was the order of the day. In New York particularly, a section of the White society believed that slavery was wrong, and at the same time they were worried about the retaliatory action by the slaves that they would rebel, and when there was a rash of fires in the city in 1741, the Blacks became the suspects. There is lots of controversy about the reasons for the rebellion, whether it was a social reaction or a criminal conspiracy with motivated agenda, whether factors other than racism were involved. Assuming for a while that the Blacks were the culprits for the major incidents of fire, the important issue for me is what led them to such desperate measures. They were persecuted in the name of religion, political ideologies that supported slavery, scheming of the vested interests and big farmers etc. 152 blacks were arrested, some were burned at the stake, some were hanged and the most intriguing aspect was four of the alleged white ring leaders were hanged. The judicial process was also interrupted at the final stages, after thirty executions, that the slaves did not have the mental capacity to plan such a conspiracy. But the type of punishment given to the convicted slaves was again mockery of justice and an act of racism, as Whites were not burned as it was done in the case of many Blacks. The reliance on shoddy evidence provides the picture of legal proceedings during that time, which placed no value to the lives of the Blacks. There can be

The battle of Yarmuk (636) and the arab conquest of syria and palesine Essay

The battle of Yarmuk (636) and the arab conquest of syria and palesine - Essay Example One of the deciding factors of these battles aside from the strategies is the increase in numbers of Muslims that formed alliances with those of their own fates, and also their conquests of nearby regions, stopping the expansion of Christianity towards the Middle East and India, and allowed the Muslims to move westward up to Spain (The Great Islamic Conquests 49). It was believed by historians that if these battles did not happen or if it had other results, the history of the world might have been changed dramatically, since the major contributions of Islam like mathematics and science would be prevented from being spread, and without these two important concepts the beginning of the scientific revolution would be prevented. The Arab Conquests of Syria and Palestine When the Muslims were able to take control of former cities that were previously under Christianity, not only did they expanded their territories, but also removed the fertile lands that the Byzantine Empire relied on (Fo uracre 298). The unification of the bands of Arabs by the Muslim faith has created large and uniform bands that were able to take over territories because of their members having something in common: a strong faith in Muhammad (The Great Islamic Conquests 48). ... This created an opening for the Muslim Army to take over Syria and Palestine, before ultimately fending off the advancing Byzantine army at the Valley of Yarmuk. Around the year 628 A.C.E., the Prophet Muhammad signed a non-aggression pact with the Meccans because he was not yet allowing the Jihad, or Holy War to commence yet. However, due to the need to expand the Islamic faith and to loot the rich countries, some three thousand of his men initiated attacks on the eastern regions of Jordan, and eventually caused them a devastating defeat from the defending Byzantines (Avi-Yonah and Peres 199). Initially this made the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius complacent about the defenses of the Syrian borders, and after a year from being attacked by Muslim Arabs, he created an opening by not paying the tribes that defended this side of the kingdom (Kennedy 143). In addition to the discontent with the Byzantine rulers and religions, the persecutions added to the disinterest of the tribes that were living in the Syrian border, which made these parts vulnerable to either attacks or conversions (Kennedy 147). The Muslim army advanced towards southern Syrian borders, and one of the governors signed a peace treaty with Muhammad, which helped him secure one of the entrances to Syria (Avi-Yonah and Peres 199). After gaining control of Syria around 633-634 A.C.E., the Muslim army then planned on invading Palestine, annexing it and liberating the people from Byzantine rule. The battle lead by Khalid entered Palestine first by invading the northern part in order to control the region without other problems. The Byzantines were taken over by the Muslim soldiers due to the former undermining the capacity of the advancing Muslim army. Aside from the Byzantine Emperor

Community development in social work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Community development in social work - Essay Example These processes include the organization or establishment of services, e.g. for social welfare, health protection, education, improvement of agriculture, development of small scale industries† (cited in UNESCO Working Paper for ACC Working Group on Community Development, 1956, 1). The word social work is made up two words, ‘social’ and ‘work’, and has different meanings when observed from the social perspective of different regions in the world. Thus, social work in India would be different from the social work being carried out in Iraq or Afghanistan, which would again differ in America, or UK, or Australia. Social work concept changes from country to country, varying according to the social and cultural environment, and political culture in the country, where one is conducting the social work. Broadly, social work, which is based on the principles of justice for all and human rights, aims to bring about social changes, develop good human relationship s, and to empower people for their own well being and liberation. Community Development, however, does not stop at just being a part of social work. There are many more implications to the word, and it is extremely broad in its scope. While CD does imply social work, today in the modern era of globalization, it also broadly implies the activities of the various political leaders, various civic activists, and the actions of other responsible and aware citizens, who all get involved in the various works done for the betterment of lives in local communities. So it is much more than just social service. CD means empowering the citizens as individuals, or in groups, so that they can learn the skills (often required to create political power to bring about social consciousness on some common agenda) which can be implemented to bring about positive changes. Thus, one may redefine CD as â€Å"Community development is a set of values embodied in an occupation.   It

Textile Industry in USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Textile Industry in USA - Essay Example The industry comprises various, fragmented set of services that range from small, family-owned and-operated facilities that normally employ older, conventional manufacturing systems to giant integrated mills that employ the most modern machinery and manufacturing equipment. In 1996, Mexico pushed China aside as the major U.S. supplier of textiles and garments. Textiles and apparel are responsible for about 20 % of the U.S. trade loss. Recently, the loss in textile and apparel business was estimated as $52 billion. In accordance with the WTO, in 1998, the U.S. imported $69.1 billion worth of textile merchandise making it the largest importer. Exports are about $17 billion. Moreover, the Asian financial predicaments have impacted the U.S. textile industry. The American Textile Manufacturers Institute (A.T.M.I.) has resolved to firmly dispute against the new rush of Asian imports into the USA, following the depreciation of Far Eastern currencies. Apparel imports from Asia are up 12 % for 1998 to 5.9 billion square meters. In addition, Asian imports of fabrics, yarn and home fixtures have risen by 16 % to reach 6.1 billion square meters. Accordingly, U.S. fabric manufacturer Burlington declared in January 1999 that it would decrease its manufacturing facility by 25 %, as a result of bigger Asian garment imports in the U.S.A. Seven factories were shut, and 2,900 people fired i.e. 17 % of the labor force. Burlington Industries hires 17,400 persons in the U.S.A., 18,900 all over the world. It is anticipated that the U.S. textile and apparel industry's has experienced a decrease in employment from 1.5 million people in 1990 to 985,000 in 1999. Nevertheless, it is believed that as the World Trade Organization is more phased in and business impediments continue to decrease, the position for the textile industry on the global side looks assured for both exports and imports. Moreover at the same time as the economic predicament in Asia may turn up ostensibly to intimidate the textile industry with a rush of cheap goods from those nations, some crucial aspects make sure that the industry will be less at risk. The central of these aspects is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Statistics show that the agreement has already facilitated quickens businesses between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with imports from Canada and Mexico representing 21.1 % of all U.S. textile imports. Especially important, U.S. exports to the two nations comprise 45.6 % of all U.S. textile exports. As there has been a common drop in demand for U.S. made products, this enlarged trade among North American nations will help to reduce the shock that the crisis might otherwise have on U.S. producers. In contrast, U.S. textile importers and developing countries have blamed the U.S. government of not fulfilling global Agreement on Textiles and Apparel (ATA). A key component of the ATA requires the phase-out of quotas on textile and apparel trade. Various American importers and retailers, in addition to the developing countries that export goods to the USA, have condemned the U.S. government for continuing quotas on various imports until the end of the 10-year phaseout period, which started in 1995. On November 15, 1999, the USA and

Improving Patient Flow in Emergency Departments Essay

Improving Patient Flow in Emergency Departments - Essay Example AD: The hospital is also faced with crowding issues especially after disaster attacks. The hospital can be understaffed or overcrowded during large scale emergencies or during normal operations. The issue alters communication channels significantly and subsequently slows down service delivery (Hoot & Aronsky, 2008). AD: the challenges were evaluated based on the occasional complaints at the complaint box. The complaints have further been raised by staffs and patients at the Ethics Department. Bearing the frequency of the complaints, i decided to take action on the matter (Hoot & Aronsky, 2008). I employed simulation model in the collection of data. I decided to analyze the admission records at the ED so as I can have a generic outlook of the queue. I took a keen assessment on Monday’s admissions which are normally the busiest, so as I could forecast and have an estimate on busy day admissions. I also evaluated the empty in-patient beds at the hospital so as I could measure the department’s capacity (Hoot & Aronsky, 2008). AD: The Hospital management and i instituted the Six Sigma model so as to enhance patient flow at the ED. After instituting questionnaire surveys on 400 inpatients at the ED, the management decided to improve boarding time during patients’ treatment at the ED (ACEP, 2014). AD: The management decided to employ internal measures to curb the situation. The management reached on stringent accountability measures. It was concluded that in case of any delays or bed missing by the patients, the responsible nurses would be held accountable. The CEO and the nursing vice president would be called so as to provide corrective or disciplinary measures. Bed meetings would be instituted before the start of every shift so as the practitioners can understand the current situation (ACEP, 2014). Case Managers would also be allocated to specific physicians in order to follow up on patients treatment procedures. In addition, the

Sikh Gurus, Sacred Scripture, Sacred Institutions Research Paper

Sikh Gurus, Sacred Scripture, Sacred Institutions - Research Paper Example All Sikhs are deeply connected to the Guru Granth, and it is considered to be the Guru, and thus to be the immediate revelation and manifestation of God (Mann 41). How scripture became the Guru and how each Guru participated in scripture, and the institutions that resulted from this process, is a very interesting story. The way God spoke to the Sikhs was through their Gurus. The Gurus wrote songs and recitations of devotion and supplication, in poetic form, and these were passed on to subsequent Gurus of the lineage. The Guru Granth is comprised of the collection of poetry and songs, dating all the way back to the respected Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikhs (Mann). The scripture is an active part of daily living, for the Sikhs, and is the center for rites of passage in Sikh family celebrations (Mann 42) Guru Nanak taught an emancipator path of liberation from the cycle of rebirth, based upon the humble and joyous adoration of God. God was macrocosm and microcosm, and could not be fully known nor manipulated, but might freely bestow his grace. Guru Nanak, glimpsing the transcendent, sang poetry to God: I would still not be able to measure your greatness, nor signify the glory of your name. Another example is: To you belong my breath, to you my flesh. You the True One are my Beloved (Singh 34). Guru Nanak’s 500 devotional songs (Mann 44) address the problem of Indian society’s brokenness and fragmentation into the many pieces of caste, class, religion, language, social structure and cultural paradigms (Muthumohan 8). In the 1500’s, the Punjab was ruled by Muslims, using the Q’uran, and society also under the influence of Brahman priests who excluded women and all lower castes from much of the religious worship experience, and who kept an oral tradition of scripture, so that accessibility was controlled (Mann 43). The Jains responded to India’s fragmentation by honoring multiplicity. Vedanta reduced everything into OM, outs ide of which everything else is illusion. Buddhism constructed relationality. Sikh musical devotion mediates between the dilemma of one and many through â€Å"musical cementing and construction of consent† (Muthumohan 8). Music is a fluid signifier, to Guru Nanak’s way of thinking, and very unlike the rigid deity signifiers of other religious approaches, which created division, not unity (Muthumohan 8). Guru Nanak’s God is nameless, formless and eternal, cannot be precisely known, so this God does not divide into inflexible social and philosophical segments, but unites what is broken. The universality of God was reflected in the teachings and practice of caste and gender equality (Grewel 15). This view of equality is reflected now in the way every Sikh, irrespective of caste, class, gender, age, or status is equally welcome to handle the Guru Granth, to read it and listen to it and sing it and respond to it (Mann 44). There is no priest in charge but each person can access the scripture, and therefore God, directly. This view of equality is reflected in Guru Nanak’s institution of congregational worship. He sat with his followers, who were not distinguished from each other in practice, and sang praises to God together, at the same time, in the same place, with the same status, all having in common their loyalty to the Guru. This became known as â€Å"

Andragogy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Andragogy - Research Paper Example Just as importantly, defining what makes an individual an adult has meaning when determining how they will perform when trying to learn. The seven steps to creating a learning planning for adults is called the progress model which means that solving problems is the focus of how learning is accomplished. The following paper will examine the assumptions that define andragogy and the meaning behind them as they support adult learning and the differences between adult and child level learning capacities. Andragogy The origins of andragogy can be traced back to a German educator in 1833 who used the term to define adult education from child education. Alexander Kapp created the term which specifically means man-leading, which is in contrast to the term pedagogy which means child-leading. In the 20th century American education theorists defined three different types of adult learning. The first is andragogy, the second is self directed learning, with the third being transformative. Andrago gy is used as a description of adult learning as a concept in which the learner is motivated by a series of assumptions that end with the learner developing solution to problems in order to learn in the context that an adult learns best (Melik & Melik, 2010, p. 108). Defining andragogy is a bit difficult as it has been presented through a variety of different ideas and is therefore not quite a firm theory through which to filter ideas. Andragogy was originally presented with three assumptions. Some criticisms of the ideas behind andragogy is that it is focused on the individual and not a critical evaluation of the social perspective on adult learning. The concept of andragogy has been correctly criticized for not informing the social perspective, but Knowles suggests that it does not have to promote the social perspective in order to have value in developing a structure of ideas about adult learning. One of the main proponents of andragogy as a theory of learning for adults is Malco lm Knowles. Knowles introduced the idea in the 1970s in response to the fact that most theory on learning was focused on children (Utley, 2011, p. 32). He broke down the assumptions about the motivation for adult learning it six basic concepts. The following is a list of those concepts: 1. Adults need to know the reason for learning something (Need to Know) 2. Experience (including error) provides the basis for learning activities (Foundation). 3. Adults need to be responsible for their decisions on education; involvement in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Self-concept). 4. Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives (Readiness). 5. Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Orientation). 6. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators (Motivation) (Pierson, 2011, p. 182). These six principles outline the motivations that adults need in order to create a meaning ful learning experience. The development of andragogy was through recognition that adults learn very differently than children. This type of learning is problem solving oriented rather than based upon the idea of content based learning as is more often the situation with children. Andragogy begins with the notion that adulthood comes through a psychosocial perspective rather than through â€Å"a specific biological, social, legal, or chronological age group (Utley, 2011, p.

Levers of Control and Strategy Implementation Essay

Levers of Control and Strategy Implementation - Essay Example Secondly, the technology requirement for the low class lock is low and lock can be produced by some small companies in town. They have cost advantage in tax and administration. The product can meet the requirement in low class market. Thirdly, the higher steel price compresses the profit space. The case company is located in the North of China. It is a medium size company which has three production lines and can produce about hundred kind of lock. Their products are mainly the door lock and padlock. Their locks are used in civil and industrial areas. They can produce the low- and medium class lock. Between 2003 and 2005, they pay attention to low class door lock because of high demand by the construction company. In these two years, the competition in low class market became fierce They decided to go back the medium market. In 2007, The productivity of medium class lock take 30% percent and the profit take more than 50%. The top management realized they must develop in medium-class market because of high profit ratio. However, their vision and strategy can not be implemented successfully by their current performance and control system. During strategy implementation, the strategic uncertainty must be met. These strategy uncertainties drive the new strategy. The company's current source of strategy uncertainty is stronger competition (Atkinson and Court, 1998). Normally, companies choose one or more performance measurement and control system to monitor the uncertainties interactively. The case companies choose the revenue interactively which is highly responsive to changes in competition. However, the measure of the whole revenue can not meet the requirement of the new strategy as the companies decide to develop their product in the medium product market. The sales and profit of the medium class products are not monitored separately and interactively. Moreover, supplier is an important aspect of strategic uncertainty in competition market. For example, they pay less attention to the raw material previously because the fluctuation in the raw material market is stable. The small fluctuation of profit does not influen ce their production plan and strategy. One of their strategies is market share. The revenue is a critical performance variable of market share. However, in the last year, the steel price increased by 15%. This change heavily influenced their profit. The company had to change the production plan. The cost of raw material has a big impact on the company's profit. They need to pay more attention on the raw materials market. In order to occupy the market, they can not transfer the cost of raw materials to sale price fully. Therefore, they should monitor the cost of raw material and provide a subjective incentive to the purchaser. The levers of control (LOA) can not only improve the strategy implementation capacities in the four facets, but also manage the strategic risk which is often ignored. The successful strategy implementation requires controlling the multiple dimensions of strategy reflected in the 4Ps of strategy implementation: perspective, position, plans and goals, patterns of action. Since there are still gray areas in some aspects of strategy implementation like the levers of control, this research will investigate the levers of control of strategy implementation (Bapna et al, 2000). Specifically, the study is set

CutePet Store Essay Example for Free

CutePet Store Essay 1. Who is the target market for CutePet Store? Why? Target Markets This analysis requires the marketing department to recognize the needs of various consumer and business groups. 1. Benefit sought- company marketers will identify the benefits customers 2. Methods of reaching markets seeking and determine the various ways to reach customers. 3. Appeal to each market. 4. Needs not being met- needs and wants of individual groups 5. Demographic and psychographic profile of each market. (Promotion’ book) 1. Benefit sought One of the benefits that CutePet Store has is they offers the high-quality pet food, pet accessories and; healthy and care for the pet. Therefore, the suitable CutePet Store target markets are likely among specific individual customers, design professionals, pet care professionals and government agencies. 2. Methods of reaching markets CutePet attract their current customer and potential customers by communicate the products and services that they have offering. Customers have concerned and interested about CutePet Store through the products and services’ benefit, which have meet their need and wants. 3. Appeal to each market. As CutePet Store have offers the healthy and care for the pet, CutePet Store strategically placed near design professionals offices, veterinary offices and governments agencies, therefore, these target market can easily reach. CutePet also reaching the market are through Internet such as Facebook and website. Through the Internet, individual customer especially pet owner can explore the detail information about CutePet Store. 4. Needs not being met * Consumers consider the issue of quality of their pet foods, accessories and; healthy and care. For these things, they want give more money at premium price. CutePet Store have these following needs, consumers can have high quality product. * Consumers such as police departments need the collars for their dog to teach a pet not to bark. CutePet Store has sells high-tech collars such as those that use ultrasonics collars and this make CutePet Store some comparability to other pet store. * Consumers who want their pet healthier and clean. CutePet Store provides pet grooming. The main reasons for pet grooming include: * decreased chance of various health problems, such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems * general cleanliness of the dog * monitoring of the dogs health by checking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, or changes in temperament, all of which could be indicative of illness * forging of a closer bond between dog and owner * Reducing infestation load of external parasites on skin. 5. Demographic and psychographic profile of each market. Individual consumers, design professionals, pet care professionals, and government agencies were selected as CutePet Store’s target market. a) Individual consumers Individual consumers such as pet owners of course CutePet Store target market. As well CutePet Store offers their consumers the high-quality pet food, accessories and; healthy and care, therefore, the demographic groups also have been specific narrow. CutePet Store more targeting the women, as well women make more pet purchasing decisions more than men since women are the consumers who subscribe to pet magazines and become more educated on pets and pet products. Women are also the consumers who take their time at pet stores to get themselves familiar with products. Women also spend time doing other research through the internet, gather information through word of mouth and listen to the advice given by veterinarians. Therefore, CutePet Store target market for individual consumers are likely to be individuals who are married, between the age of 35-54, lives in a town area, earns an income of approximately RM3000 and has one child. b) Design professionals Design professionals such as interior designer’s professionals, architects, and landscape architects, has been selected as a target market for these products as high-end models are designed to suit the needs of animals owner. Designers who have clients with pets will have access to a solution that is essential for their design, not outdated. c) Pet care professionals Next, pet care professionals such as veterinarians, breeders, kennels and pet day care centers also have special access to the most appropriate solution for their customers. Veterinarians recognize high health benefits for digestive health eating animals, as well as for joint, muscle and bone health of older animals. They also recognize the benefits and preferential flow instead of animals for stagnant water and can offer products to customers to address their healthcare customers required. Breeders, kennels and pet daycare centers can all have animal facilities. Some of these facilities meet the high-end customers who want the assurance that their pets are an existing or future well-kept. Special units of various animals we can meet the need to eat and drink animal and pet owners pet care professionals need to know that their pet receives the highest quality treatment. Veterinary medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury in animals. Veterinary medicine is a broad scope, covering all species of animals, both domesticated and wild, with a variety of conditions that can affect different species. It is suitable as a unique target market for professional work field can influence other customers to try the products offered health. In addition, these people are also those who can give confidence to the consumers to buy as field work that reliability and dependability. d) Government Agencies Lastly, target market is government agencies. Government agencies such as police departments and fire departments have dog as their pet their animal services. CutePet Store take government agencies as target market by offer them to buy high-tech collars for their use when do dog training and also do hygienic care to make sure the dog stay clean.

The Study Of Human Computer Interaction

The Study Of Human Computer Interaction Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the study of interaction between people or users and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of design, computer science and several other fields of study. Interaction between users and computers occurs at user interface or simply interface. This includes both hardware and software such as object or characters are display by software on a personal computers monitor. The inputs receive from users via hardware peripherals. For example keyboard, mice. Human-computer interaction (HCI) studies a human and a machine in conjunction. It draws from supporting knowledge on both the machine and the human side. On the machine side which techniques in operating system, programming language, computer graphics and development environment are relevant. Other, the human side have communication theory, graphic and industrial design disciplines, social science, linguistics, cognitive psychology and human factors are relevant. Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a wide discipline which studies all the elements linked to the human use of computer and software by association. It also concerns devices which can be linked to computer such as mobile devices, computerized consoles and video terminals. The main aim of Human-computer interaction (HCI) is to make the use of software and computerized devices as simply and easy to understand as possible which with the aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the action taken at the same time. Human-computer interaction (HCI) covers all the main stage of the productive flow from design of the user interface to the investigation of the result obtained, passing via the search for innovative solutions and the laboratory assessment of prototypes. This is another reason why Human-computer interaction (HCI) involves aspects linked to a number of disciplines, including: Your password is what tells the computer that you are who you say you are. Until we can do retina scans like in James Bond movies, the password is the best that we can do. But, because your password is like a key to your account, you need to safeguard it. Anyone who has your password can get into your account, and your files. Anyone who can guess your password has it. Anyone who has your password can pose as you. Therefore, you may be held responsible for someone elses actions, if they are able to get your password. You may not wish this to happen. Tips on safeguarding your password First and foremost, NEVER give your password to anyone. Anyone means your coworkers, your spouse, your systems administrator. In the event of an emergency, the sysadmin can change your password. Your sytems administrator never has a need to know your personal password. If someone needs to get onto our machines, and has a reason to be here, do not give them access to your account. Speak to the systems staff about us setting up an account for them. We would be very happy to give them one. Make your password something you can remember. Do not write it down. If you really, honestly forget your password, we can easily give you a new one. Wed rather set your password once a month because you forgot it than have someone find it written down and gain unauthorized access to your account. Make your password difficult for others to guess. This is not as hard as it initially seems. See the section below on chosing a good password. DO NOT Change your password because of mail from someone claiming to be your systems administrator, supposedly needing access to your files!! This is a popular scam in some circles. Remember, your systems administrator never needs your password for any reason. If someone needs to ask you to change your password so that they can gain entry to your account, they do not have reason to be there. We run sophisticated password crackers on the password files of our machines. If we guess your password, you will have to come see a staffer to have it changed. These are the same crackers that the bad guys have access to, so if you have a weak password, its better if we find out about it first. How Not to Choose a Password Here are some of the types of passwords that will be picked up by our crackers: Words in the dictionary. Words in any dictionary. Your user name. Your real name. Your spouses name. Anyones name (crackers dont necessarily know that your aunts middle name is Agnes, but its easy enough to get a list of 100,000 names and try each one). Any word in any cracking dictionary. There are lists of words that crackers use to try to crack passwords: passwords that a lot of people use. Some of these lists include: Abbreviations, Asteroids, Biology, Cartoons, Character Patterns, Machine names, famous names, female names, Bible, male names, Movies, Myths-legends, Number Patterns, Short Phrases, Places, Science Fiction, Shakespeare, Songs, Sports, Surnames Any of the above, with a single character before or after it (8dinner, happy1). Any of the above, capitalized (cat > Cat) Any of the above, reversed (cat > tac), doubled (cat > catcat) or mirrored (cat > cattac). We used to tell people that taking a word and substituting some characters (a 0 (zero) for an o, or a 1 for an l) made a good password. This is no longer the case. New crackers have the capability to crack things like this, in certain situations. Words like foobar, xyzzy and qwerty are still just plain words. They are also popular passwords, and the crack programs look for them. Avoid them. Any of the sample passwords, good or bad, mentioned in this document. How to Choose a Good Password I know that coming up with a good password can be difficult, so here are some guidelines to use. Choose a password that is at least six characters long. This should be long enough to discourage a brute-force attack. Currently, the maximum password length on many Unix systems is eight characters, but if you want to add a few more characters to make it easier to remember, go ahead. Just bear in mind that anything after the eighth character will be ignored (so abnormalbrain is the same as abnormal). In general, a good password will have a mix of lower- and upper-case characters, numbers, and punctuation marks, and should be at least 6 characters long. Unfortunately, passwords like this are often hard to remember and result in people writing them down. Do not write your passwords down! At work, your network people will require you to change your password every several days. At home, you should rotate your passwords as a matter of good computer hygiene. If you are using different passwords for differents websites, you can do yourself a favor by rotating portions your passwords every few weeks. Note that rotating parts of the password, not the entire passwords, will help deter hackers from stealing your phrases. If you can memorize three or more passwords at the same time, then you are in good shape to resist brute force hacker attacks. My conclusion is The graphical password schemes we considered in this study have the property that the space of passwords can be exhaustively searched in short order if an offline search is possible. So, any use of these schemes requires that guesses be mediated and confirmed by a trusted online system. In such scenarios, we believe that our study is the first to quantify factors relevant to the security of user-chosen graphical passwords. I recommendation that every month change one time password for safe. All security things dont let anyone know. Special security question. Because security question is help user find back forget password. character and number mix together is a best password.

Modern Grammar Teaching: Reflection Notes

Modern Grammar Teaching: Reflection Notes During reading curriculum for this paper I have learned a lot about grammar and speaking as tools for communication, and my own expectations towards teaching. The theories I have looked at have their strengths and weaknesses, so I have dragged out the parts that I consider important from each one. I found out that there is not one best approach. However, it can bring us closer to understanding how Communicative Language Teaching works. The aim of this paper is to deepen my understanding of teaching and adapting this approach to use as foundation in my future teaching practice. My goal is that through examination of different views and theories I can adapt a suitable approach to teaching. This will help me to improve the quality in my future teaching practices. Working with the Curriculum was the most challenging in my teaching practice. Planning a lesson can get one to be creative and come up with different ideas. I have gained a lot of experience by observing and teaching. Although teaching practice was difficult at times, I tried to do my best. I and my tutors had frequently guidance. They were open to my ideas and this helped to progress in my teaching. I have learned that it is important not to imitate teaching styles and be critical, but choose the teaching style that suits me most. I am aware that as a teacher I meet many challenges both in the subject and didactics area. These situations have to be assessed one by one and there is no answer. What I believe is that if I focus on being a plain (clear?) grown-up and keep a kind of distance towards students and be inaccessible at the same time, I can become an inspiring teacher, at least I hope to become. It is necessary for a teacher that students learn from him/her. One of the objectives of the English as a school subject is that language is both a tool and a way of gaining knowledge and personal insight. Students have to be aware of language learning, communication and understand culture, society and literature. These objectives are the core of the English subject and I hope that I am the right person to be a mediator for this. Introduction There is an enormous demand for English teaching nowadays due to the expanding need for communication skills in English language. Millions of people aspire to good communication skills in English language. Teaching at school, exchange studies, travel, media, internet, newspapers are only a few of the many opportunities to acquire English. There is a huge need for quality language teaching and teaching materials/resources. Fluency and accuracy in English is indispensable not only for academics but also for employees. In order to succeed, one needs good language skills, therefore a successful teaching method is constantly required. To express himself/herself in writing and orally with some precision, fluency and coherence and use basic grammatical and text structures of English orally and in writing are two of the Competence Aims in the English Subject Curriculum (http://www.udir.no). These competence aims give a freedom in choice of teaching methods. The research questions of this paper are: Is Communicative Language Teaching an approach that improves English teaching? Do we need grammar in language teaching? In order to answer these questions I will first introduce the approach of Communicative Language Teaching. Also will I discuss the difference between fluency and accuracy, acquisition and learning, inductive and deductive grammar teaching. For this purpose I chose to discuss different views of several theorists on communicative teaching: RichardsRodgers, David Nunan, C.J. Brumfit, Stephen Krashen, David Newby and R. Ellis. Content Many Norwegian students experience a type of English learning that does not encourage them to see English as a communication tool. Unfortunately, the study of English language is focused mostly on passing exams. Because of this, learners assume there is a connection between good results and proficiency. This is true, to some extent, but strong focus on scores and grades can distort the goals of language learners. Students invest often a lot of time in study efforts, like drills that do not build their language competence. They focus more and more on getting good examination scores, instead of building proficiency. These students will come to see language learning as an exercise favouring accuracy. English seen as a communication tool makes the language study more captivating. Students who experience as early as possible English as communication, talk face-to-face with someone from a foreign country, read books published in English, watch movies, develop the ability to interact with a totally new world. Fluency vs. accuracy The process of Language Teaching has changed significantly in the last years. Earlier views of language (for example the Grammar Teaching Method) had grammatical competence in the centre. Language was seen as a set of norms and structures. The learner had a passive role, and grammar books included mostly drills, gapped sentences and sentences for transformation. (Newby,1998:184). Acoording to Brumfit`s theory (Brumfit,1980), learners need freedom to use the newly developed skills. Not allowing this would inhibit those abilities which are necessary for the most effective response to the predicted needs. Emphasis on fluency is new method in foreign language teaching. Brumfit (1980) shows that the use of fluency is the basis for a language curriculum, rather than accuracy. Accurate construction of the target language has always been a basis in traditional syllabuses. Brumfit is uncertain about its beneficial effects. Accuracy as basis in language teaching neglects adaptability and the a bility to improvise, and written forms will tend to dominate spoken forms. Are learners more responsive to fluency? Brumfit(1980) points at the naive learner who achieves more progress on an oral basis of fluent and inaccurate language than a careful and accurate language. A communicative language teaching begins with communication. Brumfit points at the importance of Communicational exercises that need to match the stages in learner progress. According to RichardsRodgers(2006), Communicative Language Teaching is an approach that aims to communicative competence in language teaching. This approach aspires to develop procedures for language teaching that supports the connection between language and communication. David Nunan (1988) in his Learner-Centred Curriculum studies the concept of language proficiency. The Communicative Approach originates from the theory of language as communication. Nunan mentions Chomskys distinction between competence and performance (Nunan, 1988:32). Comp etence refers to mastery of the principles governing language behaviour, that is the knowledge of grammar rules, and performance refers to the manifestation of these rules in actual language usage. Competence simply means knowledge of the language system( Hymes,1971:13) Hymes (1971)develops this theory further and comes to the conclusion that if a speaker were to produce grammatical sentences without regard to the situation in which they were being used, he would be considered deranged( Hymes,1971:14). Brumfit(1980) agrees with this and observes that beside knowledge of grammar one has to learn to use appropriately the language in living situations. Teachers cannot operate with a view of language simply as a descriptive system to be handed over to the learner; language is a means of interaction, self-definition, aesthetic creation and clarification (Brumfit,1980:116). In communicative language teaching errors are necessary for the learner in order to get a response on the learning s ituation. This way teaching strategies become more sensitive to the abilities and different individual needs (Brumfit,1980:115). Failures operate as a diagnosis for the teacher, and motivation for students. Language is used in a process of thinking, discovering, classifying and manipulating. This process does not take place through language alone, so it demands our active use (Brumfit,1980:120). The aim of language learners is contact, not assimilation. Fluency practice helps the learner to use his limited amount of language for as wide a range of purposes possible; only accurate speech will communicate effectively. The main goal, according to Krashen(1981), is aid in performance. For this reason language teachers should put learners into situations where they have to grope and paraphrase. According to Brumfit(1980), adjusting to other speakers, must be a central feature of communicative methodology. Acquisition vs. Learning Stephen Krashen (1981) calls Communicative Language Teaching an ideal approach. His Second Language Acquisition Theory contains 5 hypotheses. In the Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis, Krashen(1981) points to the existence of two separate processes that happen in language learning: acquisition and learning. According to Krashen (1981), language acquisition is more central than learning in second language performance( Krashen,1981:101). Language acquisition (intake) is a subconscious process similar to the way a child`s language learning. Caretaker speech is an efficient method to encourage language acquisition. (caretaker speech= all input that is understood). Intake hypothesis develops the idea that one can acquire competence in a SL without ever producing it; delaying speech when active listening is provided causes no delay. Krashen (1981) mentions a report on the American Indians who do not speak a language until they have learned it well (Krashen 1981:108). The result of this hypoth esis is the silent period the students are given to while acquiring a new language. Krashen(1981) doesn`t agree with theories that say that language is grammar, restrict vocabulary and focus on syntax. He means that in order to encourage syntax acquisition, one has to emphasize vocabulary: even knowing the words is enough to guess the content and syntax. One needs comprehension in order to acquire syntax (intuitions). Language learning (input), on the other hand, refers to the conscious learning of a second language, knowing the rules of thumb and the structure of the target language. Krashen(1981) says that there is no need to provide any conscious learning in acquisition, because grammar rules describe only fragments of natural language. He gives example of performers who know the rule, but still cannot use it after many years, and performers who have acquired large amount of language without learning it consciously. (p.114). Krashen(1981) concludes that grammar study by itself is meaningless; successful second language acquisition need both grammar and immersion. Acquisition may happen in intake-rich environments. Mechanical drill fail as optimal intake primary focus is on the form of the language. These might motivate students but is not enough (Krashen,1981). Communication is stimulated by more efficient exercises, such as meaningful, communicative drills. Foreign student peer group and helping foreign students get to know each other are also beneficial for intake. Communicative grammar. Inductive vs. deductive grammar teaching According to Newby(1998), many language classes in Europe focus mostly on teaching grammar, reduced to a form of mathematics and had little to do with the communication of ideas. Teachers use large portions of class time explaining rules, analyzing the grammar in sentences and drilling. Newby(1998) means that traditional grammar has to be analyzed again and replace some elements with a more communication -based theory of grammar. He believes that there is more than one view that provides all the answers. Newby(1981) discusses the difference between traditional, deductive grammar and modern, inductive grammar. While deductive grammar focuses on the presentation of language, on rules and testing of grammar, inductive grammar concentrates on the ability of choosing meaningful grammar in real contexts. Nevertheless, inductive grammar is not weak on grammar. Newby(1998) mentions that it includes additional categories which offer the learner ways to communicate through grammar in actual si tuations. In the early stages of learning the learner learns to feel grammar and sees how it works. Language theorist Ellis R.(2002) claims that acquisition begins with awareness. Testing at an early stage of language learning may inhibit learning, and learners end up confusing testing and teaching. Only after gaining confidence may the learner use activities in order to integrate knowledge into other areas of their competence. Grammar is the final stage of the process, when communication happens in a context. Ellis(2002), claims that grammar shouldn`t be directed at learners but at those who already have sufficient lexis. Teachers should focus on difficult grammatical structures. But are there any disadvantages using this modern teaching process? Newby answers this with his view that modern grammar requires rethinking grammatical categories and re-orienting towards meaning. Teaching grammar can have a beneficial effect (Ellis) as long as it is directed on those who have sufficient vocabulary knowledge. Newby (1998) concludes that one has to be open to, but also critical of, all methodological approaches. Conclusion This study has provided the opportunity to learn more about grammar in the light of Communicative Language Teaching. I have shown that theories have a wide specter, with some of the theories for, others against grammar teaching. My opinion is that both focusing on grammar accuracy and meaningful communication is equally important. It is teacher`s responsibility to choose the right task, considering the students` background. I do not affirm that Communicative Language Teaching is the best approach of teaching English. But understanding its methods can be used as a significant source of ideas. Literature list Brumfit, C.: Problems and principles in English teaching, 1980, Oxford : Pergamon Press Ellis, R. :Understanding Second Language Acquisition, 1991,Oxford: Oxford University Press (Compendium) Hymes, D.H.: On communicative competence, 1971, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press Krashen, S.D: Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning, 1981, Pergamon Press. (Compendium) Newby, David: Theory and practice communicative grammar, 1998, Ablex Publishing Corporation. (Compendium) Nunan, D.: The Learner-Centred Curriculum : a Study in Second Language Teaching, 1988, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press Richards, Jack C. and Rodgers, Theodore S: Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, 2006, Cambridge University Press. http://www.udir.no/Artikler/_Lareplaner/_english/Common-core-subjects-in-primary-and-secondary-education/ 15.03.10 SPEAKING SKILL IN THE LIGHT OF COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING Introduction The Curriculum has 5 basic skills that are integrated in the competence objectives. In addition, the English subject has been structured into 3 main areas of competence aims: language learning, communication and culture, society and literature. These subject areas supplement each other and must be considered together. One of the five basic skills of the curriculum is being able to express oneself orally. This paper discusses the skill of being able to express oneself in writing and orally in the light of Communicative language teaching, by drawing in experience from my teaching practice in a Lower Secondary School (I decided not to go deeper into the theory of Communicative Language Teaching as I already did this in my previous paper). Finally, I will introduce strategies to improve speaking so as to make English teaching more effective. The main goal of this paper is to show the importance of using the target language in the classroom having a starting point in Communicative Language theories. Content Use of target language in the class Pupils should be given the opportunity to speak English as much as possible during English lessons. For most of pupils, the classroom is the only place during their school years where they will have the chance to speak English. One of the five basic skills of the curriculum is being able to express oneself orally. English Subject curriculum says that being able to express oneself in writing and orally in English is a key part of developing English linguistic competence and is a common thread throughout the competence objectives at all levels. These skills are important tools in working on understanding and using English in increasingly varied and demanding contexts across cultures and subject fields. Having oral skills means being able to both listen and speak (http://www.udir.no). In my teaching practice I noticed that an average Norwegian pupil speaks English too little or not at all during their three years in Lower Secondary. What is the reason that pupils speak as little as they do, though Curriculum stresses the importance of speaking? One of the reasons is that English teachers focus mostly on accuracy, memorizing dialogues and learning to perform them fluently. This approach is successful and teaches pupils vocabulary and grammar but gives little practice in expressing own ideas in English. Could this be the reason why whenever pupils try to say anything else that differs from the memorized sentence, they have to strive for a long time to put easy sentences together? Language theorist David Newby (1998) describes language as a means of communicating messages between human beings in actual contexts (Newby,1998:184 ). His view is that in real life language is used to exchange meaningful messages in actual contexts and this should be reflected in classroom ( Newby,1998: 185). Another theorist, Krashen (1981), claims that simple free conversation and mechanical drills are not efficient because communication is not stimulated. He considers meaningful, communicative drills and exercises as being highly effective. Unfortunately, drills are very common in language teaching, while genuine speaking is neglected. This might explain why some of the students` ability to speak is far behind their knowledge of grammar or vocabulary (Krashen,1981: 103). Experiencing communication in my teaching practice I started my teaching practice by 2 weeks of observation of an 8th grade class with 23 pupils. When I started observation, the 8th class was at the end of a project with my tutor. The aim of this project was to design a poster about a tourist attraction in London or about homeless people. They were allowed to use media sources (magazines, newspapers, Internet, books), encouraging authentic language in real context. Time frame was approximately 9 hours at school. Pupils worked with a partner, which encouraged relationships and gave opportunity to work together. The pupils were supposed to read and understand the plan presented in the learner`s book about designing a poster. The teacher went through the task reading loudly and explaining step by step, instead of giving the pupils the opportunity to find out for themselves. What I have noticed was that all instruction was made in Norwegian, not in the target language. I was surprised by this, because I do not see the reason having Engli sh at school if you do not practice it. If teachers do not have the courage to speak fluent English, they cannot expect that students will do it. Listening and speaking exposure is essential in order to communicate effectively. It is also important in writing activities, because all skills are necessary and skills are inter-related and build upon each other. Professor Diane Freeman(2000) points out to the significance of using the target language not only during communicative activities, but also for explaining the activities to the student or in assigning homework (Freeman,2000:132). The tutor explained to me that she used Norwegian in order to make things easier and as a teacher she has to adapt teaching to the students. I believe that low expectations discourage students. English was little used during class. Students mostly used target language when reading or giving answers to tasks from the learner`s book. My opinion is that it is OK to use native language for beginners, but I believe there are other ways to encourage pupils to speak English, for example by praising and by giving them time to express themselves. After I have started teaching I noticed that even the best students are nervous about using the target language. I believe that speaking is an individual process. One has to concentrate on many things at the same time: vocabulary knowledge, word choice, grammar, pronunciation etc. But producing spoken language is indispensable in learning a language. My opinion is that if once students experience a minimum of success in conversation, they will be motivated to learn to express their ideas in English with fluency. As I have mentioned in my previous paper, language theorist Stephen Krashen (1981) claims that fluency work is necessary to enable the performer to achieve acquisition while accuracy in language teaching neglects adaptability and the ability to improvise (Krashen,1981:128). Theorist Christopher Brumfit (1980) indicates that fluency practi ce helps the student to use his limited amount of language for as wide a range of purposes possible and teachers have to allow the students to learn from their own abilities. Strategies Another aim in the Curriculum is to express [] orally to obtain help in understanding and being understood and to understand various oral and written presentations on self-selected topics (www.udir.no). During my teaching practice I tried to use activities that focused on fluency. I concentrated on achieving of communication instead of focusing on errors. In this way I gave a chance also to those students who felt unsecure about their English level. I recommended students to use language that was not predictable and sought to link language use to context. I achieved these aims by using authentic materials in my teaching, such as real newspaper articles. The students` homework was assigned to require using accessible materials, like articles, television news, anything that could create discussion. The students enjoyed playing roles. Problems occurred when they had to carry out the role play. Many of the students read out loud what they have written instead of improvise. When it went o n too long, and performing took too much time, other students had to wait for each other. Even so, this activity both seemed to stimulate and motivate them. My impression is that balancing fluency activities with accuracy is the most difficult task in planning a lesson. Brumfit(1980) says that only accurate speech will communicate effectively, and we need accuracy as well as fluency in order to communicate properly. Communicative drills or exercises can be more efficient in producing language acquisition than mechanical drills, claims Krashen (1981) because these are activities in which students can really communicate or in which communication can be stimulated (Krashen,1981:104). In my teaching practice, I tried to combine meaningful practice with communicative practice as often I could. By meaningful practice I refer to activities where students have to make meaningful choices when they perform a practice. One of these kinds of tasks was the one where students had to imagine that they were staying at a hotel in London. The student was supposed to visit some of the attractions and they had to use a map in order to find the way there. They had to work in pairs and had to explain their partner how they have planned their day, by showing on the map how they are going to get there. The students were excited about working in pairs, something they do quite seldom. Their biggest challenge was working together and using the target language, my challenge was making myself understood. I had to explain the task many times, but even so, there were some students that had to get instructions in Norwegian. Nevertheless, they seemed motivated by learning something else besides grammar. But how can a student become a confident English speaker? According to language theorists RichardsRodgers(2006), teachers have to reconsider their role in teaching. Instead of being a model of correct speech, teachers should facilitate language learning and be more flexible when activities are unsuccessful. My opinion is that it is important to make a check-list on what is important in communicative practice, for example: use of creative, authentic questions and tasks that can be used outside the classroom, use games and guessing to make things interesting, use tasks after the students` age and interests and bond the topic of texts with personalized, background knowledge. All this encourages the students t o use English in the classroom. Most of lower-secondary students are used to watch movies or listen to songs in English. But still, even the best students need to be praised and encouraged to speak it. With a view to improving speaking abilities, giving opportunities to practice and having free conversational activities are very good ideas. To any level of students, using English for real communicative purpose is an ideal way to begin! Students can gather with the teacher in a cafà © and discuss issues in English to break away from the idea that English is only used in class or homework. Conclusion In this paper I have discussed the importance of speaking English in the classroom. My opinion is that speaking is the strongest tool for communication. Students need to experience language as communication as early as possible in their learning in order to master English. That is why I, as future teacher of the English language, am aware of the importance of giving students opportunity to speak the target language. Even though accuracy and fluency cannot be totally separated, it is more effective to have achievable goals rather than being perfect. Teacher-student interaction is the best example of authentic communication. And if the teacher knows his/her students well enough, it may provide a lot inspiration. Literature list Brumfit, C.: Problems and principles in English teaching, 1980, Oxford : Pergamon Press Larsen-Freeman, D.: Techniques and principles in language teaching, 2000: Oxford : Oxford University Press Krashen, S.D: Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning, 1981, Pergamon Press. (Compendium) Newby, David: Theory and practice communicative grammar, 1998, Ablex Publishing Corporation. (Compendium) Richards, Jack C. and Rodgers, Theodore S: Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, 2006, Cambridge University Press. http://www.udir.no/Artikler/_Lareplaner/_english/Common-core-subjects-in-primary-and-secondary-education/ 15.03.10